My impression of Rand Paul is that he literally hasn`t thought about the immigration issue (not unusual for cloistered libertarians) and doesn`t really understand it. (In the video linked here, although commendably citing Milton Friedman on the incompatibility of immigration and the welfare state, he confuses green cards with citizenship).

At the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) meeting in Las Vegas this weekend… five donors huddled with a reporter pledged to reach into their deep pockets to ensure Paul doesn’t win the GOP nomination.

“The best thing that could happen is Ted Cruz and Rand Paul run and steal each other’s support,” says one of the donors, “but if not, we’ll be ready to take Paul down.”

Several prominent GOP donors at the conference suggested that Adelson, who spent more than $100 million backing Newt Gingrich and Romney in 2012, is likely to spend vast sums against Paul if he appears to be well positioned in the Republican primaries…

Paul hasn’t — and probably will never — win the trust of the pro-Israel community,” says Noah Pollak, executive director of the conservative Emergency Committee for Israel

Rand Paul has told top GOP donors that he is “evolving” on foreign policy, particularly when it comes to his positions on Israel, according to several people who have had conversations with him. In recent months he has toned down his opposition to foreign aid — a red flag for most at the RJC…He has also increased his outreach to prominent pro-Israel and neoconservative thinkers and donors to show he is interested in having a dialogue.)

How remarkable it is that members of a small community are so open about using their wealth – and not argument or persuasion – to distort the political process and defy the preferences of the Historic Amercan Nation.